House Speaker Martin Romualdez speaks during the launch of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in Biliran (Facebook)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez has taken up President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on his challenge to hasten the delivery of government services to far-flung areas in the country. 

On Saturday, Aug. 26, Speaker Romualdez was in Naval, Biliran to lead the dry-run of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair, which placed together under one roof 50 programs and services of some 33 government agencies, including delivery of an estimated P80 million worth of assistance. 

The program is intended to be replicated in every province in the country. 

“Sa Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair, nais namin na maging tulay upang mas mabilis ninyong makuha ang mga serbisyong kailangan ng inyong mga pamilya (This Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair aims to be the bridge that would hasten the delivery of these services needed by your family)," the Speaker said. 

The House leader, in partnership with Tingog Party List Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre led the launch of the two-day fair at the Biliran Province State University in Naval. 

It brought to the doorstep of Biliran residents at least 50 government programs, services, and assistance, including the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), which both provided financial aid to distressed citizens. 

With the launch of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair--which hopes to service over 900,000 citizens--Speaker Romualdez said the contributions of the House of Representatives will no longer be confined to the walls of the chamber but can be directly felt by the communities and the people themselves. 

In Biliran alone, around 26,000 beneficiaries benefitted from the services and programs of various government agencies, with about 20,000 receiving cash assistance (AICS, TUPAD, Scholarship), while over 5,000 residents received non-cash assistance like health and medical services. 

Speaker Romualdez said the two-day caravan in each province aims to also increase awareness of the various government programs and projects of the government and encourage better appreciation and understanding from the people. 

“Sa pagkakataong ito, muli nating napapatunayan ang matibay na diwa ng pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan nating mga Pilipino (We proved once again in this instance that unity and cooperation among Filipinos is strong)," he said. 

The tentative schedule for other Serbisyo Fairs in other provinces is as follows: Davao de Oro (Sept. 8-9), Leyte (Sept. 9-10), Ilocos Norte (Sept. 11-12), Laguna (Sept. 30 to Oct. 1), Camiguin (Oct. 14-15), Bohol (Oct. 28-29), Camarines Norte (Nov. 11-12), Bukidnon (Nov. 25-26), and Eastern Samar (Dec. 9-10).